Grain-cleaner



(No Model.)

E. PHELPS.

GRAIN CLEANER.

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Unire-n strates Paritair @risica GRAIN-CLEANER' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.

292,04@ dated lJanuary 15, 1884.

Application filed Octobfr 1i', 1883. (No model.)

'o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELNATHAN PnnLrs, a

. citizen of theUnited States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Van Buren and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grain-Cleaners, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this speciiication.

' My invention relates to improvements in` vertical grain-clean'ers, the object being to provide an improved construction whereby the grain will be thoroughly cleaned andthe dust and dirt carried off as fast as they are separated from the same; and it consists, essentially, of the details of construction and general arrangement of parts, all as will be hereinafter fully described, and specifically designated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a vertical longitudinal section of my complete machine, and Figs. 2 and 3 detail sectional views thereof.

Similar letters of reference occurring on the several figures indicate like parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame-work of my improved machine, throughl the central part of which is arranged an upright crank shaft or spindle, B, which is provided with pulleys B', one at the top and the other at the bottom of saidA shaft, as shown, whereby motion is imparted to the apparatus by suitable power.

To the upper part of theapparatus -is attached the ordinary chamber, C, while directly below the same is located the suction-fan D, which is securely attached` to the upright shaft or spindle B, so as to revolve therewith.

Beneath the suction-fan D, and adjustably secured to the vertical shaft B by the check- Vnuts a, is provided a series of inclined distributingbeater-blades,F, said beater-blades being arranged one above the other, for throwing the grain upward and outward among the metallic rods F, which are arranged vertically around the sides ofthe interior of the perforated casing or jacket G, located at the central part of the apparatus, as shown. An inclined shelf, H, is provided at or about the central parts of the said rods F, while a corresponding shelf, H, 5 5 is arranged at the bottoms of the same, as fully shown in Fig. l. The bottom G of the easing or jacket Gis of a funnel shape, and also perforated similarly to the body of the said casing, and within which is adapted to revolve a conical brush-frame, I, which is adj ustably secured to the vertical shaft B and adapted to revolve therewith. A brush-frame, I, of a corresponding shape, with its conical point upward, is arranged directly above the lower brush-frame, I, and is also adj ustably secured to the vertical shaft B, and revolves beneath an inclosingframe, J, within the interior of the casing or jacket G. The wheat or other grain which is to be cleaned is delivered ou the shaker-shoe 7o K, which is provided with -four screens, 1,2, 3, and 401c the usual construction. The screen 3 is designed to separate the small wheat which may have passed through the wheatscreen 2 from the screenings and conduct it into the spout b with the larger wheat. The grain or wheat, in passing down the spout b, is spread in a thin sheet at the point c by an upward current of air, whiclrwill take withit the smaller impurities, and as the grain passes farther down it meets with another outward and upward current of air at the point d, which will take out the heavier foul impari ties+such as chess, shrunk wheat, or oatsthe force of these two currents of air being regulated by the valve e, the heavier particles that are driven out being deposited in the chamber C, and the smaller impurities, passing with the air into the suctioirfan D,'dis charged through a suitable spout or opening.' The wheat, having thus passed through two air-blasts, is now struck by the distributing beater-blades E, thereby throwing the wheat upward and outward among the metallic rods F, which are so located with relation to each 95 other as to expose the kernels of the wheat to a heavy jar, scouring the same on every side. A strong current of air, produced by the said beater-blades, carries off each particle of dirt or dust the moment that it is jarred roo or scoured from the wheat through the perforations of the steel casing or jacket G into the passage g, thence to the suction-fan D, and out into the open air. The wheat, after being thus thrown in among the rods theirst time, then falls upon the inclined shelf H, which delivers it'back upon a lower row of the said beater-blades, which in turn throw the grain again upwardly and outwardly among the rods beneath the first shelf, H, thereby exposing it to another scouring` process, the dust being carried ott", as already above described. The wheat, after being thus beaten and scoured by the blades and rods, which are all perfectly smooth, presenting no sharp or rough surfaces which might break `or ,injure the bran, inclined shell", H', which delivers it to the drops upon the second first brush-frame, J, from which it passes through the opening i into the lower brushvframe, I, which revolves upon the stationary perforated bottom of the casing G. The brush Jrevolving around in the same holds the wheat down flat and forces the cockle through the perforations, as also all dust or dirt which may be taken from the wheat. The wheat `Vthus treated then passes on into the brushframe J', which is attached to the vertical shaft B, and revolves on a stationary level perforated surface, j j, which allows the large cockle to pass through the perforations, while the wheat is held hat by the brush, which thoroughly removes any dust which may yet be on the wheat and passes it through the said perforations with the cockle, while the cleaned grain or wheat is discharged through the spout L into the air-spout M, where any remaining particles of dust are carried into the suctionfan D, the current being regulated by thc valve e', and the cleaned grain passes out of 40 the machine by means of the spout M.

Attached or fastened to the brushes I and J are rubber Scrapers o, so arranged that in revolving over the perforated surfaces they operate to lift out all kernels of wheat that may chance to lodge in said perforations.

By means of the screw-rod O, arranged at the lower part of the apparatus, in connection with a lever, the brushes may be so regulated as to brush the grain, light or heavy, as may be desired, and enabling them to run clear without being empty.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is l. In a grain-cleaner, the combination `of 55 the vertical shaft B, suction-fan D, distributing beaterblades E, vertical rods F, inclined shelves H H', and brush-frames J, I, and J with the spout b, chamber C, casing G, and frame A, substantially as described.

2. In a grain-cleaner, the inclined distributing beater-blades E, arranged one above the other, in combination with the vertical rods F, inclined shelves H H', and perforated casing G, as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELNATHAN PHELPS.

Titnessesz THOMAS J. JOHNS, VOLNEY E. MANLEY. 

